Go to the farmers and tell them we don't need Centre's help to pay crop insurance: Mamata

Bolpur: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed to launch a massive campaign to inform the farmers that the state government will pay their entire premium of crop insurance. Banerjee was addressing the administrative review meeting at Gitanjali Auditorium here on Wednesday afternoon.

The decision to pay the crop insurance was taken a few days ago, after the Chief Minister found that the Centre is taking the credit of paying the premium of crop insurance for Bengal farmers, by paying only 20% of the amount.

Utilising the situation, the state BJP was telling farmers that the Centre was paying their crop insurance premium. "We pay 80% of the premium and Centre pays only 20%. Give advertisement in newspapers, go to the farmers and tell them the actual story. We do not want Centre's help. We will pay the entire amount," Banerjee said.

Banerjee expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the district administration to procure paddy directly from the farmers. District Magistrate Moumita Godara informed the Chief Minister that the district administration has procured 1 lakh metric tonnes of paddy against the target of 3.5 lakh metric tonnes.

Banerjee asked the district administration to start disbursing cheques among the farmers directly from January 5, under the "Give your paddy and take your cheque" scheme. The state government will open an additional 2,000 centres so that the farmers won't have to travel far to sell their paddy.

She asked the district administration to take stringent measures against errant drivers. Speed should be restricted on some stretches of highways and police vigil should be intensified, she said. She asked the district administration to implement 'Safe Drive Save Life' programme seriously. "It is often seen that various types of crimes along with incidents of reckless driving take place during late night and early hours and police vigil in the vulnerable areas should be intensified," she said.

Banerjee said she had the information that often some truck drivers ask the khalasis to drive the vehicle while they take rest. "Conduct surprise checks and taken stringent action against the khalasis," she said, adding: "Ensure that drunken driving is totally stopped and ensure that no one talks on cell phone while driving as well."

She asked the people's representatives to go to the people to oversee the distribution of rice at Rs 2/kg under Khadya Sathi project and distribution of houses under Bangla Abas Yojana.